Recent events around the world should be a wakeup call for all fellow nationals voting in this election. For those thinking of not voting, think twice, because like everyone else, you will be affected as never before by the direction T&T takes after this election. In this turbulent world, small Island states face unprecedented challenges and in particular, Caribbean Islands. If we, the voters in this T&T election, are concerned about what will happen to us, for example, if a major hurricane or any other natural disaster strikes, it could help us to choose which party has the all-round capabilities and track record to deal effectively with such disasters and therefore deserve our votes. Climate change disasters that we are already facing plus the spread of pandemics, the threat to democracy, the illicit drug trade, unemployment, and firearms trade, crime and human trafficking among other problems that we are facing, call for a government with a leader who has the vision and experience to deal with these challenges at home and on the international stage. One who can rally the forces at home, work strategically with our Caricom neighbours and be respected internationally. Against this background you, the voter, should have an easy task deciding on who to vote for. My choice is for Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the UNC and the coalition of Interests. On the economic front, with all the evidence available, it is clear that T&T’s future lies not so much in oil and gas but on a diversified economy with new international economic partners. We have to be creative in developing new industries and employment opportunities by installing a government that is capable of ‘thinking out of the box’ and make bold moves to place T&T on the road to prosperity. On these issues, I wholeheartedly give my vote to the UNC and Kamla Persad-Bissessar. We also need a government led by someone who goes beyond tokenism in genuinely embracing all sections of the population at the personal level and in the way government should function. T&T cannot progress if we continue to look after a few at the expense of the majority. We could only make genuine progress as a country if we look beyond electoral boundaries and utilise the talents and skills of nationals regardless of who they are and where in the country they come from. It should not be too difficult for voters to look at the record of the two major parties in this election to see which one contributed more towards the development of all of T&T in health care, education, the welfare of children, national security, infrastructure and economic development. An examination of the statistics that exist should put KPB and the UNC ahead in this election battle. Having represented T&T as High Commissioner/Ambassador in India, China and several other countries as KPB’s appointee, I am aware of her sharp focus on Foreign Policy matters. She is a strong and effective leader with a non-nonsense approach in getting her instructions carried out in a typical Kamla’s quiet and dignified manner. She can also be tough as demonstrated by the number of senior officials she removed from office during her tenure as PM. The former Prime Minister is the only charismatic leader we have today and that quality places her above everyone else in this campaign. In a world threatened by anti-democratic forces, autocratic and despotic leaders, T&T desperately need a charismatic and compassionate leader who can restore and maintain human rights, protect the constitution and lead with fairness across the board. The voice of our women with all the challenges they face, will find peace and solace in the voice of the first female Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. With Persad-Bissessar back at the helm, I anticipate that a pipeline of projects for which the groundwork has been laid will begin on day one. Digitise motor vehicle licence plates by a self-financing, highly experienced, world class company. Covering all manhole covers in T&T with indestructible, plastic manhole covers at the cost of the manufacturer; a revolutionary waste disposal system that removes all ‘dumps ‘ with a totally recyclable facility on a self-financing basis; an innovative prisoner rehabilitation programme as part of a national security apparatus; a world class health class system, started by the UNC with emphasis on chronic disease and disabilities management programme; building a film city and art district with private/ public partnership. T&T would not have been blacklisted by the EU for violation on illegal and unreported fishing as a port state, if the UNC’s work was implemented. I hope that am UNC government will immediately deal with this so that we can capitalise on the blue economy. On the cultural basis, having served every government in independent T&T, the UNC and in particular Kamla Persad-Bissessar, gave me the strongest support, not only to create a unique space for T&T’s culture but also create an avenue for the employment of our artists abroad including the positioning of T&T carnival on the global market place, to capitalise on our unique expertise, talent and leadership in making this a more viable economic foreign exchange earner. Anyone who knows Persad-Bissessar from close, can testify to the fact that she is passionate about culture of any genre and ethnic flavour. The creative industries must play a greater role in our efforts to diversify the T&T economy. In Persad-Bissessar we have a great patron of the arts and one who will ensure that the creative community gets the level of support, including foreign exchange, to fully exploit their talent at home and across the globe. For transparency and fairness in dealing with the creative industries, we could depend on “Aunty Kamla”. Having worked under every government of Independent T&T, I salute the first female Prime Minister and wish her all the best in this election contest. Chandradath Singh